Several of Matthew Perry’s “Friends” co-stars and recurring actors shared tributes to Perry after his sudden death over the weekend.
Perry, who died at age 54 from an apparent drowning on Saturday, played beloved character Chandler Bing on the hit NBC sitcom from 1994 to 2004.
“What a loss.The world will miss you Matthew Perry. The joy you brought to so many in your too short lifetime will live on. I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared. ♥️,” Maggie Wheeler captioned a photo of the two of them lovingly looking each other on the show.
Wheeler appeared on 19 episodes of “Friends” and played Bing’s on-again, off-again girlfriend, Janice Litman-Goralnik.
Another one of his on-screen love interests, Paget Brewster — who played Kathy — tweeted out how “very sad” she was to learn about the death.
“He was lovely to me on Friends and every time I saw him in the decades after. Please read his book. It was his legacy to help. He won’t rest in peace though.. He’s already too busy making everyone laugh up there,” Brewster tweeted on Saturday.
John Stamos recalled his time on set for a single 2003 episode via Instagram.
“Standing backstage, ready to make my entrance, Matt whispers, ‘The audience is going go crazy when they see you! Get ready for some loud screams,'” the “Full House” alum remembered. “I walk through the door … silence. I was so embarrassed.”
The actor was tempted to “quit showbiz” until Perry told the studio audience to “give it up for” him, with Stamos concluding, “I never forgot that and the world will never forget you.”
Brooke Shields appeared on one 1996 episode as Erika Ford, Matt LeBlanc’s character’s stalker-turned-love interest, and she gushed about how much she “loved” Perry.
“Really struggling to find the words. You were so loved, Matthew. I loved you dearly. Thank you for the belly laughs. You brought joy to so many. We already miss you… sending all of my love to your family & friends 💔,” Shields captioned a photo of them from the 1996 episode.
Harry Connick Jr. shared a post on behalf of his wife, Jill Goodacre, who played herself on a 1994 episode while locked in a bank with Bing.
“i remember this like it was yesterday… @mattyperry4 was so nice to jill… praying for him and his family #friends,” Connick Jr. captioned a clip from the episode.
Morgan Fairchild, whose character Nora Tyler Bing was his mother, shared several tributes to her late TV son.
“I’m heartbroken about the untimely death of my ‘son’, Matthew Perry. The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock. And such a sweet, caring man, too! I’m sending love and condolences to his friends and family, especially his dad, John Bennett Perry, who I worked with on Falcon Crest & Flamingo Rd. Lovely family and such a heavy loss!” she wrote via Instagram on Sunday.
In addition to the photo of her character walking Chandler down the aisle for his wedding, she also shared a sweet snap of just the two of them smiling together on “Friends.”
“Hard to believe this was from our first season of #Friends almost 30 years ago. #ripmatthewperry,” she wrote.
She appeared on CNN on Monday where she continued raving about “one of the kindest” men she knew.
“He was such a warm and wonderful and creative young man,” Fairchild said, while adding he exuded “joy” with a “puppy dog kind of feel.”
Meanwhile, Kathleen Turner, who played his father Charles Bing, told People in a statement that she is “very sad for Matthew.”
“He came to see one of my Broadway shows and he came backstage. When he saw me, he yelled out, ‘Hey dad’ and everyone thought it was pretty cool,” she recalled.
Turner admitted that she hadn’t seen Perry for “at least 10 years” before his death, but she still “liked him” with his “good sense of humor and a good heart.”
Hank Azaria, who made several appearances throughout the ten years as Lisa Kudrow’s scientist boyfriend David, shared an emotional video remembering his “brother” who helped him get sober and took him to his first AA meeting amid Perry’s own battle with addiction.
“The whole first year I was sober, we went to meetings together,” Azaria said in an Instagram video on Sunday. “As a sober person, [Perry] was so caring and giving and wise. And he totally helped me get sober.”
Sarah Ferguson, aka Fergie, even posted a tribute to the actor. As some “Friends” fans may recall, she briefly appeared to take a photo with LeBlanc’s character while in London on Season 4.
“I remember being thrilled to have met a natural talent, comedian and brilliant actor. It is a tragedy to lose you so early in life, rest in peace dear Matthew … you have given so much joy and laughter to so many,” she captioned a series of photos with Perry and the rest of the cast on Sunday.
Elliott Gould, who appeared on the show several times as Courteney Cox and David Schwimmer’s on-screen dad, raved about how Perry was a “kind, thoughtful, smart, funny, and just a terrifically, talented actor.”
“Matthew told me he was so honored to be working with me. What he didn’t know until I told him, was that it was my privilege to play his father-in-law. My heart goes out to his wonderful family. He will be missed by so many but he will never be forgotten,” he wrote via Instagram on Sunday.
Michael Rapaport played one of Kudrow’s on-screen boyfriends Gary, and he tweeted about the “talented” Perry on Saturday night.
“Rest In Peace @MatthewPerry Always so nice, cool, chill & talented You are a part of American Culture and will live on forever,” he wrote.
Lauren Tom also paid tribute, as she acted on the sitcom for seven episodes as Ross’ girlfriend Julie, whom he dated right before beginning his romance with Jennifer Aniston’s character.
“I think sometimes when a massive success occurs suddenly, it can feel like a crisis, and I was struck by the close bond that all 6 actors shared. It’s as if they were holding each other tight during a wild ride,” she wrote under a solo shot of Perry and a photo of her sitting on the iconic couch alongside Perry and Schwimmer.
Tom added that she “will always remember Matthew’s kindness and his generosity as a person and an actor,” and thanked him for bringing “joy to so many.”
Aisha Tyler, who portrayed Schwimmer and LeBlanc’s characters’ love interest Charlie Wheeler, recalled working with the “gentle” star.
“He had a gentleness and generosity of spirit that was unparalleled. I learned how to tell a joke perfectly just by watching him work. And I will never forget the moment he leaned in, on my first night of taping Friends, to tell me warmly, “get ready for your life to change.” Rest well, Matthew Perry. Thank you for the kindness and laughter.💫,” she captioned a black-and-white photo of Perry.
Melissa George, who joined the show in 2003 as the nanny for Aniston and Schwimmer’s baby, shared a black-and-white Instagram Story of her working on the set.
“I worked with #matthewperry not shown here on the set of friends playing the nanny, he was so loved and so much fun. Rest in peace now 🤍,” she wrote on the throwback picture.
Meanwhile, “Friends” co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, and executive producer Kevin Bright released a statement about how “deeply saddened” they are by the loss.
“It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives. He was a brilliant talent. It’s a cliche to say that an actor makes a role their own, but in Matthew’s case, there are no truer words. From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us. We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment – not just to his work, but in life as well. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart,” they wrote in part.
Warner Bros. Television Group also expressed how “devastated” they are over the death of an “incredibly gifted actor.”
“The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day, and we send our love to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans,” they wrote.
On Monday, Perry’s “utterly devastated” main co-stars, Cox, Aniston, Kudrow, LeBlanc and Schwimmer broke their silence on their close friend’s passing.
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“We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” they told People in a joint statement. “There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.
“In time we will say more, as and when we are able,” the cast members continued. “For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”
Perry’s family released a statement to People on Sunday where they admitted they were “heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved sun and brother.”
“Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love,” they shared.
Page Six confirmed that Perry was found dead in his jacuzzi from an apparent drowning in his Los Angeles home. He was 54.
Perry’s cause of death is currently “deferred” awaiting a toxicology report.
